On opening night of Hello Dolly at Capital Playhouse, founder Jeff Kingsbury was introduced to enthusiastic applause. But not everybody was pleased. Former board member Ned Hayes said, "I am amazed that Capital Playhouse would want Jeff Kingsbury back in any public-facing position. The financial, business and personal decisions of Jeff Kingsbury are precisely why the Playhouse is in the dire financial situation it is in today."

Board member Kathryn Wyatt clarified, "Jeff is not an employee, has no office space at the Playhouse, and is working with us in a very narrow (though important), role for the very limited period of a few weeks. 

"Jeff is someone who has extraordinary talent in these areas, and, as the founder of Capital Playhouse and artistic director emeritus, he brings with him a unique love for Capital Playhouse and its mission. He agreed to donate his time, for a limited period of time, to help with broadening our fundraising sources, increasing our season subscriptions and thereby helping to ensure a bright and strong future for the Playhouse. "

Kingsbury is a controversial figure, loved by many in the community for bringing decades of quality theatrical entertainment to the Olympia area; for training youth actors and giving them a venue in which to perform; and for his dedication to and work for organizations such as Capitol City Pride, which he helped organize for several years. But he is equally reviled by many for his vote to raise building-height limits on the Capitol Lake-Budd Inlet Isthmus, which contributed for his defeat when running for re-election as an Olympia City Council member, and for being the confidential informant who twice bought marijuana from then-councilman and former colleague Joe Hyer as part of a sting operation for the Olympia Police Department in April 2010.

In October 2010 it was revealed that Capital Playhouse was in dire financial straits, and some pointed the finger of blame at Kingsbury. At that time he severed ties with the theater.

Former board member Hayes said, "I believe that Capital Playhouse is a tremendous asset to the community. However, I think I speak for many people in the community when I say I have serious and honest concerns about this decision." Hayes said Kingsbury was "fired" in August 2011 because of his "stated unwillingness to work professionally for the board, and for violation of board confidentiality." He went on the say that Kingsbury "publicly attacked the board and made personal accusations of staff members and board directors in online posts."

Mishka Navarre, former costume designer and office manager, seconds Hayes' disappointment.

"I know many theater artisans who won't work for him. ... I don't understand how the playhouse thinks that such a poisonous entity is going to attract, not scare away, patrons. ... It makes me sad that what could be such a great organization for Olympia and the theater artisans who try to live in our community is such a circus of bad decisions and mismanagement," said Navarre.

"Over the issue of whether Jeff stayed or went, we have lost and gained board members, patrons, students and sponsors on both sides of the issue, Musical Director and interim Artistic Director Troy Arnold Fisher said. "But the truth is the issue has never been whether Jeff was guilty of something; whether Jeff stayed or went; or whether Ned (Hayes) was right or wrong. The issue is that Capital Playhouse is a rare and amazing organization that should survive. Ned left the board because his views of how the organization should proceed were no longer in the majority. Jeff has returned with a sincere intent to help."

Board President David Reynolds said in the March 21, 2012, press release: "We ... are confident that the few who might disagree with our acceptance of Mr. Kingsbury's efforts will nonetheless trust that the board has the absolute best interest of the playhouse at heart."

As it turned out, Jeff Kingsbury didn't want to talk to the Weekly Volcano about Jeff Kingsbury.